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A-Rod, Cano Back Sabathia As Bombers Edge Angels

New York Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia looks toward the scoreboard as he leaves a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels in the ninth inning. The Yankees won 3-2 over the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim Calif., on Saturday, June 4, 2011. (AP Photo/Christine Cotter)New York Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia looks toward the scoreboard as he leaves a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels in the ninth inning. The Yankees won 3-2 over the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim Calif., on Saturday, June 4, 2011. (AP Photo/Christine Cotter)

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) _ CC Sabathia came within one out of his
second complete game in three starts, Alex Rodriguez hit a go-ahead
two-run homer and Robinson Cano also went deep, leading the New
York Yankees to a 3-2 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on
Saturday night.

Rodriguez snapped a 1-all tie in the sixth with his 10th homer
of the season and 623rd of his career, driving Ervin Santana’s 1-1
pitch into the rock pile in left-center field after a leadoff walk
to Curtis Granderson. The two RBIs increased A-Rod’s total to
1,864, tying Mel Ott for ninth place on the all-time list. Next up
is Willie Mays at 1,903.

Derek Jeter was 1 for 3 with a walk, tying Sam Rice for 28th on
the career hit list.

Sabathia (7-3) allowed two runs on seven hits and one walk while
striking out three. The 2007 AL Cy Young winner has won his last
four starts, tying his longest career winning streak, and is 7-2
since April 23 after going 0-1 in his first four outings.

Angels rookie Peter Bourjos chased Sabathia with a two-out RBI
single in the ninth and Mariano Rivera closed it out by retiring
Erick Aybar on a first-pitch popup to shortstop for his 15th save
in 18 chances. It was Rivera’s 1,003rd career appearance,
overtaking former Yankees Hall of Fame closer Goose Gossage for
14th place all-time.

Santana (3-5) allowed three runs and seven hits in seven
innings, struck out three and walked three. The right-hander was
moved up a day in the rotation after Dan Haren was scratched
because of stiffness in his lower back.

Santana is 1-4 in his last seven starts against the Yankees
after winning his first four.

Cano opened the scoring in the fourth with his 12th homer,
driving a 3-2 pitch into the lower seats in the right-field corner.
Torii Hunter, a nine-time Gold Glove winner, made a valiant attempt
to catch the ball and went headfirst into the first row but emerged
unscathed.

The Angels tied it in the bottom half with an unearned run after
Jeter committed his fourth error of the season, just two fewer than
he had all of last year.

The five-time Gold Glove shortstop booted a grounder toward the
middle by Howie Kendrick following a leadoff double by
switch-hitter Alberto Callaspo, who scored on Jeff Mathis’
sacrifice fly. Callaspo’s double was only the third extra-base hit
by a left-handed hitter against Sabathia in his last 22 starts.

Notes: Saturday marked exactly three years since Jeter, the
Yankees all-time hits leader, got his 2,146th career hit to pass
Mickey Mantle for third place. … Kendrick was reinstated from the
DL after missing 14 games because of a right hamstring strain, and
was 0 for 3 after getting hit by a pitch his first time up. OF
Reggie Willits was optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake. … With Boston
playing Vancouver in the Stanley Cup finals, Jeter’s rooting
interest should be with the Bruins. After all, his full name is
Derek Sanderson Jeter. But his middle name has nothing to do with
the former NHL player. Sanderson is his father’s first name. In
fact, Jeter doesn’t even follow hockey _ but he did attend the 1999
NHL All-Star game in Tampa Bay, and recalled taking in one Rangers
game during his rookie season. … A ceremonial first pitch was
thrown by Dean Chance, who was the Angels’ first Cy Young winner in
1964. In five starts against the Yankees that season, he was 4-0
with a 0.18 ERA, four complete games and three shutouts. The
Angels’ only other Cy Young winner _ Bartolo Colon _ will face his
former team in Sunday’s series finale just five days after pitching
his first shutout since July 5, 2006.